Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

The snake's body, which had been radiant and flowing, began to become a bloody mess. Strands of blood had just seeped from its flesh and had not yet dripped down when, in the next second, it followed in the footsteps of its scales and was instantly burned and evaporated by the domineering strange fire.

Under the scorching heat of the flames and the impact of the energy, her snake body shrank at a visible rate, and large, shocking charred marks began to appear on her once strong body.

The screams that ripped through the sky gradually grew weaker and hoarse as life force was rapidly depleted, until they were barely a whisper.

Finally, when the last trace of sound was completely extinguished by the roar of the flames, the snake body, which had been almost burned to a crisp and shrunk by nearly half, fell straight from the core of the Glazed Heavenly Flame, as if it had lost all support and could no longer feel any fluctuations of battle energy.

With a muffled thud, it crashed onto the charred ground below and remained motionless.

Su Baichen's heart felt as if it had been gripped tightly by an invisible giant hand, suddenly stopping its beating, followed by excruciating pain as if pierced by a sharp blade.

Despite the loss of hearing, the impact of the charred snake's body crashing onto the screen was far more destructive than any sound.

Failed?

A terrible thought, like a venomous snake, slithered into his mind, threatening to devour his last shred of sanity.

No! Not yet!

Su Baichen bit his tongue hard, the sharp pain and the metallic sweet taste forcibly pulling him out of his momentary daze.

Now is not the time to collapse!

A hint of almost insane determination flashed in his eyes. He swung his hand violently, unleashing a torrent of battle qi from his body, and roared, "Activate the formation! Gather Spirit and Create Life!"

Om-!

As soon as he finished speaking, the remaining array patterns that had already been engraved on the ground suddenly lit up, bursting forth with a dazzling light.

Countless ancient and obscure runes appeared in the air, slowly rotating around the entire island. Centered on the island, the energy of heaven and earth within a radius of hundreds of miles instantly fell into unprecedented chaos, flowing madly towards the formation like rivers flowing into the sea.

The colorful torrents of energy from heaven and earth surged and raged, but the moment they came into contact with the array's light barrier, they were guided and tamed by a mysterious force.

The formation is like the most precise converter, refining and transforming the originally violent and chaotic energy into the purest and most vibrant emerald green life energy.

The entire island was enveloped by this intense, almost overwhelming light of life, and the air was filled with the fragrance of grass and trees, as if one had instantly traveled from purgatory to paradise.

"go with!"

Su Baichen's face was pale, but his eyes were sharp as knives. He changed his hand seals and guided the vast life energy, like a warm spring, towards the lifeless snake-shaped charcoal on the ground, trying to inject it into it and awaken the dormant flame of life.

"It's alright...it will be alright..." Su Baichen's lips trembled slightly uncontrollably as he murmured, as if comforting the charred body, or perhaps convincing himself: "I have minimized all the risks...the ancient records are accurate, the strange fire is perfectly controlled, the energy supply is sufficient...and finally, there is the assistance of life energy, how could it fail?"

He shook his head violently, trying to shake off the growing panic, repeating in an almost obsessive tone: "In the original story... in the original story, she clearly succeeded! She was destined to succeed, destined to... stand at the peak! This time, there will be no exception!"

This feeble attempt at self-consolation seemed utterly powerless at this moment. Yet, it was the last straw he could grasp.

However, reality is cruel.

No matter how turbulently the emerald green life energy poured in, or how gently it enveloped the body, the charred snake on the ground remained like the deepest black hole, devouring all energy without emitting the slightest fluctuation of life.

There was no heartbeat, no ripples in the soul, not even the slightest sign of recovery.

Dead silence.

Utter, despairing silence.

Time passed second by second, and Su Baichen's face turned from pale to ashen, and the sweat on his forehead became icy cold.

He could sense that the energy of heaven and earth gathered by the formation was beginning to weaken, but the charred snake-shaped body remained unchanged.

It’s over.

It really... failed.

The evolution of the rainbow scales failed.

Chapter 56: Memories! Regret! A Turning Point!

Rainbow Scale's evolution failed!

died!

This realization, like a giant hammer formed from icy ice from the heavens, shattered all of Su Baichen's wishful thinking and psychological defenses.

His mind went blank; the sounds and colors of the world faded rapidly, leaving only the charred remains before him, a symbol of utter loss.

The girl who stood before him not long ago, shy yet bravely smiling as she said "I love you"... is dead?

The usually arrogant Cai Lin, who displayed astonishing resilience and wisdom in governing the snake people... will never be seen again?

The one whose eyes would light up at his casual suggestion, who would sincerely thank him for a pill he refined, and who would place the future hopes of the snake people on him... just like that, he turned to ashes in the flames he controlled.

"Boom!"

Su Baichen's composure and confidence, the veneer of detachment he wore because of his familiarity with the "plot" and the feeling that he had everything under control, were ruthlessly and thoroughly shattered by reality at this moment! The fragments pierced his heart, drawing blood.

Since his accidental arrival in this world, he has enjoyed smooth sailing thanks to his precognitive abilities.

His cultivation progressed rapidly, and his alchemy was always successful. Even when pursued by powerful figures from the Soul Palace, he was able to escape with ease through his strategies and maneuvering.

Subconsciously, he may have truly believed that he could control everything and prevent all tragedies.

But now, this bloody reality has given him the loudest slap in the face!

What he found even more unbearable was that the price of this first failure, this first miscalculation, was so heavy—he lost Cai Lin, and a woman whose image was clearly reflected in her eyes, and whose whole heart was tied to him!

"Ugh...!"

Unspeakable regret, pain, and self-blame gnawed at his internal organs like millions of poisonous insects.

His legs went weak, and he almost collapsed to his knees. His vision blurred, and fragments of his past interactions with Cai Lin—scenes he had either ignored or grown accustomed to—rushed through the floodgates of memory like a tidal wave, flashing, reassembling, and piecing together with incredible clarity in his mind.

When discussing policies with her, her seven-colored snake tail lazily coiled up, her golden vertical pupils filled with curiosity, and her clear, cold voice rang out: "Mr. Su? I've heard you have extensive knowledge. What insightful opinions do you have regarding the situation of my snake-human race?"

When he proposed reforms, she listened attentively, her eyes sparkling with wisdom. Occasionally, she would clap her hands and reveal a genuine smile of admiration: "Mr. Su, this policy is excellent! If it can be implemented, the living conditions of our people will surely improve!"

He refined pills to help the high-ranking members of the snake-people clan break through their bottlenecks. She solemnly accepted the jade bottle. Although she tried her best to maintain the dignity of a queen, the joy and gratitude in her eyes and brows could not be hidden: "Mr. Su, thank you for the pills. Cai Lin will remember this kindness."

With his help, the Snake People gradually escaped their predicament, expanded their territory, and improved their lives. At a celebration, in front of all the elders and people, she raised her glass to him with a complex yet sincere look in her eyes: "Mr. Su, the Snake People are able to achieve what they have today thanks to you. Our people will never forget this kindness."

……

The final frame freezes on the night before the evolution ritual began.

The moonlight bathed her delicate profile in a warm silver glow. As if having made up her mind, she raised her head, her beautiful golden eyes gazing directly at him, surging with emotions he had never seen before—emotions both intense and vulnerable.

"Mr. Su... if... if I succeed this time, can you... accept my love?"

How did he respond? Perhaps it was a habitual avoidance, or perhaps he was caught off guard by the direct question; he simply looked away vaguely.

A fleeting hint of disappointment crossed her eyes, but then her proud and stubborn demeanor returned to her face.

She gave a soft "humph," turned her head away, leaving him only with a graceful profile and slightly reddened earlobes, but her voice was unusually firm:

"Sigh... I understand. But, Su Baichen, listen carefully, I won't give up."

Then she turned back, her eyes filled with anticipation for the future, and a bright, slightly coquettish smile appeared on her lips:

"Once I succeed, I'll hand over all the affairs of the Snake-People tribe to the elders. And then... you must take me with you to travel across this vast continent!"

That smile, those words, that undisguised dependence and expectation in his eyes—all of these transformed into the sharpest blades, slowly slicing through Su Baichen's heart.

“Traveling across the continent…” he repeated these four words unconsciously, his voice hoarse like a broken bellows.

He slowly and unsteadily walked to the charred snake body, his hand trembling as he reached out to touch it, yet fearing that his touch would reduce its last form to dust.

All that came through my fingertips was a deathly cold silence and the rough texture of charcoal.

Endless despair, like the deepest night, completely engulfed him.

The lingering, ambiguous feelings for Cai Lin that had been swirling in Su Baichen's heart were completely dispelled and swept away by the immense sense of loss at this moment.

All the uncertainties seem so ridiculous and insignificant in the face of the cruel fact that "Cai Lin is dead".

The feeling of heartache so intense that you can't breathe is so real, far more powerful than any reasoning or judgment.

It was like a heavy hammer, smashing open his hard shell and exposing his deepest true feelings.

He understood, clearly and painfully understood.

It wasn't just simple appreciation, nor was it merely concern for subordinates. It was a love that had quietly grown and taken root in their hearts through daily interactions, through small exchanges and working side by side.

He fell in love with Cai Lin.

He fell in love with this woman who would argue vehemently with the elders during meetings, yet whose eyes held a deep trust.

He fell in love with this woman who seemed arrogant and aloof, yet would show a genuine smile when her people's lives improved.

I fell in love with this woman who carried the hopes of her entire tribe, who remained steadfast in the face of adversity, and who relentlessly sought a glimmer of hope.

He fell in love with her strength, and also with the occasional clumsy arrogance she displayed, which only appeared in front of him.

Su Baichen was filled with regret, regretting that he hadn't recognized her feelings sooner, and regretting that when she mustered the courage to confess, he had given her a vague answer.

"Ah……"

Su Baichen let out a soft laugh, a mixture of bitterness and realization, filled with endless sorrow.

He bent down, disregarding the ugliness and deathly stillness of the charred remains, and with trembling hands, he gently lifted the charred snake body as if touching the most precious and fragile thing in the world, and held it tightly in his arms.

It's as if in this way, one can transfer their body temperature and life to the other.

Tears could no longer be held back and burst forth. The scalding tears fell onto the cold, charred coals, making a soft sizzling sound, evaporating instantly, yet seemingly scorching his heart as well.

“Cai Lin…” he choked, his voice broken and hoarse, each word as if he had used up all his strength: “I’m sorry!”

He pressed his forehead against the cold, rough charcoal, as if only in this way could he get closer to her, and with a voice trembling with tears, yet incredibly clear and unwavering, he responded to the belated answer:

"I like you too...I love you too!"

This confession, suppressed for so long, broke through all its shackles and echoed in this desolate world, sounding exceptionally loud and exceptionally tragic.

"Please come back to life!" he pleaded, like a child who had lost his most precious possession, tears blurring his vision. "I love you! I really love you! Please... come back... I haven't had a chance... I haven't had a chance to take you to travel the continent, I haven't had a chance... to love you properly..."

His heart-wrenching cries were his final emotional outpouring, a powerless protest against fate. He held her lifeless body tightly, as if trying to meld her into his very bones.

However, just as the echoes of his tearful confession were fading—

A miracle happened!

The lifeless, charred snake-shaped body he was warming with his body heat in his arms suddenly and slightly trembled!

Su Baichen's crying stopped abruptly!

Cracks appeared in the snake-shaped coke, and faint seven-colored light emanated from the cracks, as if responding to Su Baichen.